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Analyze how Anne Bradstreet's poem "Verses upon the Burning of our Houses" reflect the simply style and values of the Puritans. Include passages from the poem to support your thesis.

User Gainster
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Answer: The poem reflects Puritan beliefs that people should focus on God, instead of earthly possessions.

Step-by-step explanation:

"Verses Upon the Burning of our House" is based on a personal experience: Anne Bradstreet's house did burn down.

In the poem, she describes the night when she watched her house burn. At first, she asked God to help her, feeling hopeless. Later, however, she thanked God for taking only earthly possessions from her, and not her family.

Bradstreet moves on to describe her feelings whenever she passes by the ruins of her house. She feels sad, as the house will remain silent forever. Her mood quickly changes when she remembers that a better house is waiting for her in heaven:

Thou hast a house on high erect

Frameed by that mighty Architect,

With glory richly furnished,

Stands permanent though this be fled.

This reflects Puritan beliefs that people should not hold on to earthly possessions because they are not truly theirs - they belong to God. Instead of focusing on earthly things, the poet realizes it is her love for God that is the most important. She is certain that God wants her to go to heaven.

User JordanBean
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